Lavan Robert P, Tahir Muna, O'Donnell Christina, Bellenger Alex, de Bock Elodie, Koochaki Patricia
Merck Animal Health, Outcomes Research (CORE), Rahway, NJ 07065, USA.
ICON plc, South County Business Park, Leopardstown, D18 FK72 Dublin, Ireland.
Animals (Basel). 2023 Oct 18;13(20):3255. doi: 10.3390/ani13203255.
The use of valid questionnaires to assess dogs' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in veterinary practice can improve canine health outcomes and communications between veterinarians and caretakers of dogs. The Canine HRQoL Questionnaire (Canine HRQoL-Q) and the Human-Canine Bond Questionnaire (HCBQ) were developed and validated to fulfill this need. A literature review, interviews with veterinarians, and focus groups with caretakers were conducted to generate questionnaire items and develop draft questionnaires, which were piloted with caretakers to establish their content validity. Measurement properties were evaluated using data from a prospective survey study ( = 327). Draft Canine HRQoL-Q and HCBQ measures were developed, including a domain structure, items, recall period, and scale/response options. Refinements were made via iterative cognitive interviews with caretakers. When no additional revisions were indicated and content validity was established, the questionnaires were psychometrically tested. Ceiling effects were observed for all items, and factor analyses indicated that the pre-specified domains are appropriate. Internal consistency was demonstrated for the HCBQ (α = 0.79-0.86) and all but the social functioning domain of the Canine HRQoL-Q (α = 0.60). Test-retest reliability for the Canine HRQoL-Q was generally moderate-to-good (with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) > 0.79). Test-retest reliability for the HCBQ was moderate (ICCs: 0.70-0.79) except for the trust domain (ICC: 0.58). Known-groups validity was demonstrated via significant differences ( < 0.05) in scores for health/bonding groups. Convergent validity was supported (r > 0.40) between all domains and the total scores for both questionnaires. The Canine HRQoL-Q and the HCBQ are valid, reliable measures of canine HRQoL for use in veterinary clinics and appear to measure related but distinct concepts that contribute to canine health and wellness.
在兽医临床实践中，使用有效的问卷来评估犬类与健康相关的生活质量（HRQoL），可以改善犬类的健康状况，并增进兽医与犬类饲养者之间的沟通。犬类HRQoL问卷（Canine HRQoL-Q）和人犬关系问卷（HCBQ）就是为满足这一需求而开发并验证的。通过文献综述、与兽医的访谈以及与饲养者的焦点小组讨论来生成问卷项目并制定问卷初稿，然后在饲养者中进行预试验以确定其内容效度。使用前瞻性调查研究（n = 327）的数据评估测量属性。制定了犬类HRQoL-Q和HCBQ的草案测量指标，包括领域结构、项目、回忆期以及量表/回答选项。通过与饲养者进行反复的认知访谈进行完善。当不再需要进一步修订且内容效度得以确立时，对问卷进行心理测量学测试。所有项目均观察到天花板效应，因子分析表明预先设定的领域是合适的。HCBQ显示出内部一致性（α = 0.79 - 0.86），犬类HRQoL-Q除社会功能领域外的所有领域也显示出内部一致性（α = 0.60）。犬类HRQoL-Q的重测信度总体为中等至良好（组内相关系数（ICC）> 0.79）。HCBQ的重测信度为中等（ICC：0.70 - 0.79），但信任领域除外（ICC：0.58）。通过健康/关系组得分的显著差异（p < 0.05）证明了已知群体效度。两份问卷所有领域与总分之间均支持收敛效度（r > 0.40）。犬类HRQoL-Q和HCBQ是用于兽医诊所的有效、可靠的犬类HRQoL测量工具，似乎测量了有助于犬类健康和幸福的相关但不同的概念。
